Ironing machine



Nov. 17, 1936.

J. 'r. HUME IRONING MACHINE Filed April 18,- 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet l J. T. HUME IRONING MACHINE Nov. 17, 1936;

Filed April 18, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 17, 1936. J. T. HUME IRONING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jijlm Nov. 17, 1936. J. T. HUME IRONING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 NOV. 17, 1936. J T HUME 2,061,275

IRONING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. T. HUME IRONING MACHINE Nov. 17, 1936.

9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 18, 1932 Nov. 17, 1 936. T HUME 2,061,275

IRONING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 l Z.' fa 9 2 Nov. 17, 1936.

J. T. HUME 2,061,275

IRONING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 I M 015 I35 I7 ZZZ Patentcd Nov. 1 7. 1936 UNITED STATES IBONING MACHINE John T. Hume, Chicago, 111., assignor to Electric Household Utilities Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 18, 1932, Serial No. 605,970

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ironing machines and its purpose is to provide a machine comprising relatively movable ironing elements which are actuated and controlledin an 5- improved manner. The'principal object of the invention is to provide an ironing machine comthe invention is to provide an ironing machine of the table type having a rotatable roll and an 20 ironing shoe extending over the table with driv ing mechanism located at the ends thereof and means located beneath the table for controlling the rotation of the roll and the actuation of the shoe by the movement of the knee of the opera- 25 tor. A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for mounting an ironing 35 porting the clothes being ironed. Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement which will appear more fully herein- The nature of the invention will be understood 7 40 from the following specification taken with the accompanying drawings, in which one ment is illustrated. r

In the drawings. v

Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of the improved 45 ironing machine of the present inventiomwith portions of the supporting legs broken away;

Fig. 2 is a. detail sectional view. taken on the line22of"l'ig.1;

p i Fig. 3 shows a top plan view of the improved ironing machine illustrated in Fig. l; Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section through the table on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; e g

Fig. 5 shows an end elevation of the improved ironing machine, looking toward the left asviewed embodi- 55 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 shows a transverse vertical section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 3; 3

Fig. 7 shows a vertical section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1, thus illustrating in elevation certain parts of the driving mechanism contained-with- 5 in the housing with the cover of the housing removed; 0

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7, with the removable cover and associated parts in their normal positions;

Fig. 9 shows a transverse vertical section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 shows a longitudinal vertical section on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 9; I

Fig. 11 shows a horizontal section through the 16 upper part of the housing on the line li-Ii of Fig. 8;

. Fig. 12 is a horizontal section taken on the line i2--l2 of Fig. 10;

13 is a detail section of part of the mecho anism for controlling the rotation of the roll;

Fig. 14 is a vertical section taken on the line ll-ll of Fig. 1;

Fig. 15 isa vertical section taken on the line l5|5 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a horizontal section'taken on the line lB-IG of Fig. 14;

, Fig. 17 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 14 but taken on the line .l'|-l1 of Fig. 16; and

Fig. 18 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 1'7, showing the relative positions of the parts when the shoe has been released from engagement with the roll by the operation of the safety release device.

As illustrated in the drawings. the invention is embodied in an ironing machine comprising a table 20 having a flat table top 2| supported by four legs 22 which are also secured together by frame members 23 arranged in rectangular form. The table top 2| is provided adjacent one end with a rectangular aperture 2 I as shown in Fig.

'7, in which is mounted an upwardly extending housing 24 having a removable cover 24 and containing operating. mechanism for actuating the rotatable ironing roll 25 and the relatively movable ironing 'shoe 26 which extend endwise there-' from above and parallel to the upper surface of the table top 2|. The side frame members 23 of the frame 23 are united by a horizontal plate 23 which extendstransversely beneath the table top and these members, as well as the end frame members 23, are preferably formed of sheet metal as one integral construction. The front and rear members 23, which form the side frame members. are connected by a pair of transverse frame members 21 which serve to support parts of the controlling mechanism hereinafter described. In order that the table top may be extended beyond the end of the ironing roll for supporting articles of considerable size during the ironing operation, the table is provided with an extension 28 which slides above the plate 23 of the frame with the reduced portion 28 thereof engaged on opposite sides by the guide members 29 which are secured between the plate 23 and the table top, as shown in Fig. 6. A pin 28 projects from the part 28 to engage one of the guide members 29 and thus limit the extent to which the table extension 28 may be withdrawn. 3

The ironing machine is driven by an electric motor 30 which is mounted onv the table beneath the table top and within the rectangular frame 23, as shown in Fig. 1. The shaft 3| of this motor extends horizontally, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5,

through the end wall 23 of the frame and has secured thereon a driving pulley 32 having an annular V-shaped groove engaged by a driving belt 33 which extends parallel to the end wall of the frame and passes around. another similar pulley 34 secured upon a shaft 35. These parts are enclosed by a casing 36 whichseats against the end of the table frame 23 and which has lugs 315 secured to the under side of the table top by screws 31.

The shaft 35 is journaled in bearings 39 mounted in' a hub 40 which is formed as an integral. part of the removable cover 24 of the housing which is secured in place by cap screws 4|, with a gasket 42 interposed between the cover and the body of the housing, as shown in Fig. 8, so that an oil-tight enclosure is formedfor the driving mechanism contained within the lionsing; This driving mechanism is in many respects similar to that described and claimed in my prior Patent No. 1,712,958, dated May 14, 1929, but it embodies certain improved features hereinafter pointed out. The hub 40 is provided with an oil hole 4(i leading to the space between the bearings 39 so that lubricating oil may flow to the shaft 35. The outer end of the hub 40 is provided carried. This frame 45 is provided with a plurality of bosses 46 which bear against other bosses 41 formed on the cover plate 24, as shown particularly in Figs. 9 and 10, and a series of studs 46 pass through the bosses 46 and threadedly en-.

gage the bosses 41 to secure the frame 45 to the coverplate 24 so that. when the cover plate is removed from the housing, the frame 45 and the parts of the driving mechanism carried thereby are removed with the cover plate as a unit.

The shaft 35 has secured thereon, between the bearings 39 and the bearings 44, a driving pinion 50 which meshes with a gear 5| secured on a countershaft 52 which has one end journaled in a bushing 53 secured within a hub 54 formed on the cover plate 24, while theother end thereof is journaled in a bushing 55 mounted in a hub 56 formed in the frame 45. The intermediate portion of this shaft 52 carries. a relatively fixed pinion. 51 which meshes with a driving gear 56 secured upon the hub of a pinion 59 which is rotatably mounted upon the enlarged portion 66 of a driving shaft 60 which serves through one series of coimections to rotate the ironing roll 25 and through anbther series of connections to effect relative movementof the ironing shoe 26 with respect to the ironing roll. The shaft 60 is journaled at one end in a bushing 6| carried by a hub 62 which is fornied integrally with the outwardly projecting portion 24 of. the cover plate 24. The other end ofthis shaft 60 is journaled in a hub 62 formed as a part of the frame 45, as'shown in Fig. 8. When the driving motor 30 is in operation, the gear 58 and the pinion 59 rotate continuously and mechanism is provided whereby these rotating members may be caused to rotate the roll or effect movement of the shoe under the control of mechanism which is actuated by the knee of the operator beneath the table.

Proceeding first to describe the driving connections from the pinion 59 to the ironing roll 25, it will be seenthat in Fig. 8 the pinion 59 is shown as meshing with a gear 64 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 65, the bushing 66 being interposed between the hub of the gear and the shaft. This shaft is slidably and longitudinally mounted in a bearingl61 which is formed in the upper part of the frame 45 and it is provided at its inner end with a transverse slot 155 engaged by the transverse flattened extremity 68 of an pprtion 68 of the shaft 68 with the transverseslot 65 of the shaft 65 permits relative endwis'e movement of the shaft 65 for the purpose of arresting the operation of the roll in the manner hereinafter described and also for the purpose of disengaging the driving connection when the cover plate 24 and frame 25 are removed from the housing.

The block 1| of the housing 24 is also provided with a tubular bore 14 in which is secured a tubular axle 15, having the inner end thereof closed by a plug 16 to prevent the oil within the housing from escaping through-the axle. The axle 15 projects longitudinally from the housing 24 parallel to the table top 2| at a point somewhat displaced rearward-1y from the central longitudinal axis of the table top so that the operator sitting at the front of the table will'have a -11 has a metal disk secured thereto adjacent each end thereof and these disks are secured by a ring 81 and studs 82 to annular bearing members 83 which revolve on bushings 84 secured on the axle 15. At the inner end of the ironing roll 25, adjacent the housing 24, the bearing member 63 is provided with gear teeth 83 which mesh with a driving pinion 85 secured on the shaft 68 so that when this shaft is rotated through the connections hereinafter described, the roll 25 is caused to revolve on the stationary axle 15.

The shaft 65 is provided within'the hub 61 with a seriesof annular rack teeth 81 which mesh with a pinion 68 formed on a shaft 89 which is journaled in the frame 45, as shown in Fig. 8. The

teeth of the pinion 88 also mesh with the teeth of a rack bar 90 which is slidably mounted in a guide 9I carried by a frame 45, as shown in Fig. 13, and which is adapted to be reciprocated when certain mechanism is operated to remove the shoe 26 so that when the shoe is moved away from the roll, the rack bar 90 turns the shaft 89 to effect longitudinal movement of the shaft 65 and thereby arrest the rotation of the roll 25.

The driving connection between the gear '64 and the shaft 65, which is thus broken by the longitudinal movement of the shaft 65, is established through a clutch member 94 which is splined upon the projecting extremity of the shaft 65, as

shown in Fig. 8. This clutch member has an annular flange 94 at its inner end provided with apertures 94 which are engaged by clutch pins 95 projecting from the face of the gear 64. A

disk 96 is secured on the end of the shaft 65 by a screw 91 and a coil spring 98 is mounted within a counterbored recess in the clutch member 94 to engage the edge of this disk and force the clutch thereon engages the end of the clutch member 94 and forces it longitudinally on the projecting end of the shaft 65 until the clutch pins 95 pass out of engagement with the apertures 94, thus permitting the gear 64 tocontinue its rotation without efiecting the rotation of the ironing roll 25.

The movement of the ironing shoe 26 toward and from the ironing roll 25 is effected through the operation of an eccentric I00 which is secured on .or formed as 'a part of the shaft 60 upon which the driving pinion 59 is journaled. This eccentric is iournaled within a strap or hub I 0| carried by one end of a connecting rod I 02. This rod has a socket formed therein to receive a friction member I03 which is pressed by a spring I04 against the surface of the eccentric so that the accidental turning of the eccentric within its hub is prevented. The connecting rod I02 is pivotallyconnected at its lower end by-a pin I05 with a crank arm I 06 which is secured upon a rock shaft I01. As shown in Fig. 8, the crank arm I06 is mounted on the rock shaft I01 between the two hubs I08 which are carried by the cover plate 24 and the frame 45, respectively. The shaft I0! is iournaled in these hubs and extends therefrom through a stationary tube IIO which is secured within a. hub III carried by the lower part of the housing 24. The shaft I0! is suitably journaled within this tube I I0 which extends longitudinally beneath-the table top 2I and the rock shaft is connected to the shoein the manner hereinafter When the eccentric I00 is operated to turn the rock shaft I01 and thereby move the shoe away from the roll, the pin II2 engages one end of the slot -and thereby actuates the rack bar 90 to turn the shaft 89 and thereby shift the shaft longitudinally toward the right as viewed in Fig. 8, to disengage the clutch member 94 and thererestore the shoe 26 to ironing position with respect to the roll, the pin II2 on .the crank arm I06 engages the other end of the slot 90 to rotate the shaft 69 in the reverse direction and thus shift the shaft 65 toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 8, until it reaches its normal position, thereby allowing the clutch member 94 to move into engagement with the clutch pins 95 under the influence of the coil spring 99. The slot 90 in the rack bar 90 is elongated because the" angular movement of the crank arm I06 is greater than is necessary to effect the required longitudinal movement of the shaft 65 and some lost motion is therefore permitted.

The driving connection between the shaft 60 and the pinion 59, which controls the rotation of the eccentric I00 for shifting the position of the shoe 26, is effected by a clutch member I I5 formed on the face of the pinion 59 and a complementary clutch member 6 hich is splined upon the shaft 60. The clutc member I I5 is provided with recesses I I5 adapted to be engaged by clutch teeth II 6 formed on the face of the other clutch member. In addition to being splined on the shaft 60, the clutch member II6 has a tubular extension which is slidably mounted upon'the hub 62 previously described and a coil spring III is-mounted on this tubular extension between the cover plate 24 and an annular shoulder I I1- formed on the clutch member so that the clutch member is normally forced by this spring toward a position wherein the clutch teeth II 6" engage the clutch recesses 5%. The movement of the clutch member I I6 away from the clutch member H5 is controlled by a shifter-bar II8 which has a cylindrical end portion II8 adapted to engage an annular groove II6 in the clutch member and to coact with a cam surface II6 which is formed around one side of this groove. The bottom of the groove is provided at two diametrically opposite points with recesses II6 which are adapted to be engaged by the rounded extremity of the shifter bar H8 to hold the clutch-member in either of two positions corresponding to successive rotations .of the eccentric I00 through degrees. When the shifter bar I I8 engages either of these recesses; the eccentric I00 is held against rotation and at the same time the ironing shoe is held either in ironing position or in a position retracted from the shoe, depending upon which recess I I6 is engaged by the shifter bar. The engagement of the shifter bar with either. recess II6 is brought about simultaneously with the disengagement of the clutch members H5 and H6 by the coaction of the cylindrical portion H6 of the shifter bar with the inclined cam surface'll6 lon the. clutch member. Assuming that the shifter bar is withdrawn from one recess, the clutch member II6 then engages the clutch member H5 and the shaft '60 is rotated by the pinion 59 whilethe eccentric I00 rotates through 180 degrees. As this occurs, the end of the shifter ba'rremains in engagement with the,

toward the right,v and disengages it from the clutch member I I5, whereupon the end of I the shifter bar is resiliently pressed into engagement with the other recess I I6, thus holding the ironing shoe in the position to which it has been moved. I

The shifter bar H8 is pivotally connected at its upper end by a pin I I9 to a crank arm I20 having an elongated hub I20 which is journaled in a bearing I2I carried by the upper part of the frame 45, as shown particularly in Figs. 7 and 8. The lower portion of the shifter bar H8 is mounted to slide between a plate I22, which is secured to and spaced outwardly from the frame 45, and a guide plate I23 which is secured to the plate I22. A pin I24 projects outwardly from the'shifter bar I I8 to engage an elongated slot I23 formed in' the guide plate, 'thus limiting the longitudinal movement of the shifter bar. The shifter bar is normally forced downwardly into engagement with the groove of the clutch member H6 by means of a coil spring I25 which has its upper end attached to the pin H9 and its lower end connected to the plate I23. The shifter bar is moved out of engagement with the recess ,I'I6 of the clutch member I I6 by the turning of the crank arm I20 which is effected by another crank arm I26 secured by a set screw I21 on the opposite end of the elongated hub I20, as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. The outer end of the crank arm I26 is ,pivotally connected by a pin I28 to a connecting rod I29 which extends downwardly and is pivotally attached at its lower end by a pin I30 to a bell crank lever I3I having a hub journaled on a pin I32 projecting from the frame 45. This bell crank lever has a short arm I3I extending downwardly in proximity to the upwardly extending arm or flange I33 of a controlling member I33 which is secured upon the controlling shaft 135 which is capable of both a rotary movement and a longitudinal sliding movement, under the influence of the knee of the operator, as hereinafter described. When the shaft I35 and controlling member I33 are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow I36, in Fig. 9, the arm or flange I33 engages the short arm I3 I ofthe bell crank lever and rocks it about its pivot to effect an upward movement of the connecting rod I29. This turns the crank arms I20 and I26 in a direction to elevate the shifter bar H8 and thus release the clutch member I I6 so that it is moved by the spring I I1 into engagement with the other clutch member I I5, rotating continuously with the driving pinion 59. The eccentric I is then actuated to turn the rock shaft I01 and thereby move the ironing shoe 26 toward or from the roll 25, depending upon the position it occupies at the commencement of the movement. A lug I33 projects from the side of the controlling member I33 to engage the end of the. arm I3I of the bell crank latter function is brought about by the longitudipivoted at its upper end on a pin I39 carried by a bracket I40 secured to the top of the frame 45, as shown particularly in Figs. '1 and 9. The lever I38 is guided in its movement toward its lower end by a U-shaped bracket I4I which is secured to the frame 45 by screws I42. The lever I38 is pivotally engaged some distance 'below its upper end by a pin I43 secured upon an arm I43 which is fixed in the slot of a head I44 formed on the end of a rod I44 having a sliding engagement with the hollow hub I20 of the crank arm I20 previously described. This rod. I44 extends completely through the hub I20 as shown in Fig. 8. and has secured to the forward end thereof 9. depending plate I45 provided at its lower end with a slot I45 to receive the intermediate portion of the clutch member 94. shifted toward the right, as shown in Fig. 8, this plate I45 engages the annular flange 94 of the clutch member and thus disengages it from the pin 95 so that the gear 64 is then free to rotate .without effecting the rotation of the roll 25. When the pressure on the member I45 is released by removing the knee pressure which has shifted the shaft I35 longitudinally, the clutch member 94 is automatically returned by the spring 98 into engagement with die clutch pins 95 of the gear 64.

The controlling shaft I35 is journaled in a bearing I46 mounted in the wall of the casing 24, as shown in Fig; 10, and is surrounded by an oil retaining device I41 set in a recess in the wall of the casing to prevent the escape of oil around the shaft. From the bearings I46, the shaft I35 extends horizontally beneath the table top 2I and is journaled in bearings carried by the transverse frame members 21 and by a bracket I48 secured to the under side of the table top, as shown in Fig. 3. It is normally returned to its normal position by longitudinal movement away from the casing 24 through the action of a coil spring I50 which is mounted thereon with one end abutting against one of the frame members 21 and the other end engaging a collar II secured thereon, as shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 16. At a point between the casing 24 and the transverse frame members 21, the shaft I35 has secured thereon an arm I52 carrying at its end a roller I53 which bears upon the tube IIO, enclosing the rock shaft I01, as shown in Fig. 2, for the purpose of holding the shaft I35 in its normal angular position after being released by the knee of the operator. The angular movement of this shaft I35 is effected by crank arms I54 secured thereon adjacent its ends and having their outer ends connected to the horizontal rod I55 adapted to be engaged by the knee of the operatorwith an upward movement for rocking the shaft I35 in its bearings and thereby turning the controlling member I33 in the direction of the arrow I36, shown in Fig. 9. The rod I55 has a pair of spaced arms I 56 secured thereon and adapted to extend on opposite sides of the knee of the operator so that the rod I55 and the shaft I35 may be moved longitudinally,

toward the right as shown in Fig. 1, against the compression of the spring I50, for the purpose of actuating the lever I38 and thereby disconnecting the clutch 94 which .controls' the rotation of the ironing roll 25. These knee-engaging arms I56 have split hubs I56 which are clamped on the rod I55 by thumb screws I51 so that their spaced relation and position on the rod I55 may be varied to suit the convenience of the operator.

When the member I45 is The tube II 0 which houses the rock shaft I01 is secured at one end in the hub I II carried by.

the housing 24, as previously described, and it members 21 and having the'end portion of the rock shaft journaled therein, as shownin Figs. 3 and 16. The extremity of the rock shaft I 01 is reduced in diameter as shown'at I01 in Fig. 16 and is journaled in a bearing I6I carried by the other transverse frame member 21. Between these frame members 21, the rock shaft I01 has secured thereon an upwardly extending crank arm I62, the upper endof which is split to provide a pair of, ears I62 adapted to receive between them a connecting rod I63 which is pivotally connected thereto by a pin I 64. A looped wire spring I65 straddles the link I68 with the loop thereof bearing against a shoulder I65 on its under side. The armsof the spring then extend upwardly over the ears I62 of the crank arm I62 and are then reversely bent to pass through the slot between the ears on the under side of the connecting rod I65, as shown particularly in Figs. 14, 16, 17 and 18. This spring tends to elevate the con'- necting rod I63 about the pivot pin l 60 for a purpose hereinafter described. The connecting rod I63, which is adapted to effect the movement of the ironing shoe 26, upon angular movement of the rock shaft I01, extends rearwardly from the crank arm I62 and has its rear end pivotally connected by a pin I 66 with a pair of links I61 which are located on opposite sides thereof and which are in turn embraced by the side plates I68 of a yoke I68, pivotally connected with the links I61 by a pin I69. This pin I69 is clamped to the supporting arm I10 of the ironing shoe 26 and it is adapted'to engage a slot I65 formed in the upper side of the connecting rod I65 so that when the parts are in their normal positions, the

- pin I69 is seated within this slot and the parts -i15 engaging bosses I16 formed on the frame members 21 and clamped in position therein by bolts I11. This eccentric sleeve I14 is provided with transverse holes I14 into which a tool may be inserted through the radial slot I13 formed in the cylindrical portion of the strap, thus permitting it to be turned in order to change the position of the shoe supportingmember I10 about the rod I69 which bears against the rear side thereof, thus regulating the pressure with which the shoe bears. against the clothes on the ironing roll. The yoke I 68 has a forwardly extending arm I 68 which has its forward end turned laterally, as shown at I68 in Fig. 16, and provided with a notch I68 on its upper side to receive a wire hook I11 carried by the rear end of an operating handle I18 which extends forwardly and rests upon the shaft I35 with the forward end thereof curved to form a handle I11, 'as shown in Fig. 6, which may be engaged by the hand of the operator to effect the release of the shoe 26 from engagement with the roll in case of emergency.

The shoe supporting arm I10 is in the form 'of a I flat leaf spring having considerable width and it extends upwardly from the actuating mechanism just described through an opening 2 I in the table top, as illustrated in Fig. 14. A metal plate I is provided with a slot to fit the arm I10 and rests upon the table top to close the aperture 2|. A guard plate I8I is mounted over the plate I80 and secured to the table top with an elongated slot I8 I therein to permit angular movement of the arm I10 during the movement of the shoe toward and from the roll. The moving parts are thus protected from entanglement with the clothes being ironed. The upper end of the arm I10 is curved inwardly toward the ironing roll and provided with a cylindrical sleeve or hub I10 which extends. between the two flanges I82 of a bracket I82 secured to the rear-side of the ironing shoe 26. The hub or sleeve I10 of the supporting arms is pivotally connected to these flanges I82 by a bolt I83. A spring I 88 is mounted on the bolt I83 with the ends thereof engaging the supporting arm I10 and the lower edge of the shoe to cause this lower edge to engage the clothes on the roll 25 in advance of the engagement therewith of other parts of the shoe when the shoe is-moved toward the roll. The shoe 26 comprises a curved plate I85 having an ironing surface which is concentric with .theaxis of the roll when the shoe is in its ironing position. This plate has its upper edge deflected upwardly as shown at I85 to facilitate the passage of the clothes beneath the shoelas the roll rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow I86 in Fig. '7. The plate I85 is further provided with flanges I 85 alongits upper and lower edges which hook over the relatively fixed back plate I81 having a recess therein which is occupied by the usual electrical heating element havinga connection with a source of current supply so that the shoe is heated electrically during the process of ironing. The shoe 26 is preferably provided adjacent one end thereof with a projecting horn I88 which is occupied by an electric heating element connected with the circuit of the main heating element of the shoe so that this horn maybe heated and may be employed to smooth, by rubbing over its rounded surface, those small portions of garments being ironed which are not readily ironed by passing between the roll 25 and the shoe 26.

The supporting arm I10, being located midway between the ends of the shoe 28, supports the shoe in balanced position and, because of its resilience, maintains a resilient pressure of the shoe against the roll or the clothes passing around the roll. In ordinary operation, the shoe 26 is merely moved toward and from the roll by the rocking of the arm I10 about the eccentric sleeves I14 under the influence of power transmitted thereto through the connecting rod I68 and associated parts from the rock shaft I01 which is actuated by the eccentric I00, as previously described. The connecting rod I88 normally occupies the position shown in Fig. 14, wherein the pivot pin I66 is swung up- 7 the axis of the pin I69. The toggle connection which is thus formed between the connecting rod I63 and the supporting arm I10 through the links I81 and the yoke I68 is such as to maintain the connecting rod I63 in the position shown in Fig. 14 so that the motion of the crank arm I62 is transmitted to the shoe supporting arm I10. However, in case of emergency, as when the flngers of the operator are drawn between the shoe 26 and the roll 25, the operator may use the other hand to seize the handle I18 and press downwardly on the forward end thereof with the result that the rear end is elevated about the shaft I85 as a fulcrum.

This raises the arm I88 of the yoke and depresses 75 the rear end of the connecting rod I58 by the engagement therewith of the top wall I68 of the yoke until a line connecting the axes of the pins I64 and I66 lies slightly below the axis of the pin I69, as shown in Fig. 1'7. The resilient pressure of the supporting arm III], which is then in engagement with the clothes on the roll, causes the links I61 to swing downwardly about the pin I69, to break the toggle connection, as shown in Fig. 18, and permit the arm IIII to swing rearwardly away from the roll. In order to restore the parts to the relationship shown in Fig. 14, theironing mechanism may be operated by shifting the controlling shaft I35 with the knee of the operator to engage the clutch H6 and cause the eccentric I to swing the crank arm I62 toward the rear, as shown in Fig. 18, whereupon the connecting rod I63 is pushed rearwardly and rocks the links I6? upwardly about the pivot pin I69. This motion, which is assisted by the coil spring. I65 engaging the connecting rod I63, will cause the rod I63 to snap back to the normal position shown in Fig. 14.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when the knee of the operator is moved upwardly, the upward motion of the rod I55, shown in Figs. 1 and 6, causes a rotation of the controlling shaft I35 in the direction indicated by the arrow I36 in Fig. 9. This causes the controlling member I33 to rock the bell crank lever I3I, thereby turning the cranks I26 and I20 and elevating the shifter bar II8 out of engagement with the recess II6 of the clutch member II6 which has previously been engaged thereby. Assuming that the shoe has previously been in ironing position with respect to the roll 25, the result of thus elevating the shifter bar I I8 is to per- 7 mit the clutch member I I6 to be moved into driving engagement with the .rotating clutch member I I by the coil spring III. The shaft 60 is then rotated with-a corresponding rotation of the eccentric I00 which transmits its motion through the connecting rod I02 and crank arm I06 to the rock shaft I01. This rock shaft is then turned in its bearings'in a'direction adapted to move the crank arm I62 toward the right, as shown in Fig. 14, and thereby move the shoe 26 away from the roll 25. Simultaneously with this movement of the shoe, the crank arm I06 on the rock shaft I01 actuates the rack bar 90 through the pin I I2 and thus turns the shaft 89, shown in Figs. 8 and 13, to cause the shifting of the shaft 65 towardthe right as viewed in Fig. 8. The bushing 66 on this shaft then engages the clutch member 94 and forces it against the spring 98 out of engagement with the clutch pins 95, thus pernTittingthe gear 64 to rotate without rotating the ironing roll 25. In this way, the driving connection to the roll 25 is automatically broken each time that the controlling mechanism is operated to move the shoe 26 away from the ironing roll.

It will be apparent that the movement of the shoe away from the roll which has just been described is effected by a half revolution of theeccentric I00 andthat, at the end of this half revolution, the shifter bar -I I8 operates by coaction with the cam surface "6 on the clutch member I I6 to disengage this clutch member and stop the rotation of the eccentric. At the same time, the shifter bar H8 is pressed by the spring I25 into engagement with one of the recesses II6 of the clutch member so that this clutch member and the shaft 60 are then'held against rotation and the shoe 26 is held in its retracted position. When the operator wishes to move the shoe toward the roll, in readiness for ironing, the rod I55 is again elevated by the knee of the operator to turn the controlling shaft I35 and thereby again eifect the operation of the bell crank lever I3I and rod I29 to rotate the crank arms I26 and I20 and withdraw the shifter bar II8 from the recess II6 last engaged thereby. This permits the clutch member I I6 to engage the clutch member I I5 under the influence of the spring III so that the eccentric I00 completes another half revolution,

at the end of which the clutch member H6 is again disengaged automatically by the shifter bar H8 and is held against rotation by the engagement of that shifter bar with a recess III; so that the shoe 26 is then held in ironing position. At the same time that the shoe 26 is thus restored to its ironing position, the rack bar 90 is again actuated by the engagement of the pin IIZ with the other end of the slot 90 so that the shaft 89 is turned in a direction to move the shaft 65 toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 8, and thereby permit the clutch member 99 to reestablish a driving connection between the gear 66 and the shaft 65.

In addition to this automatic disengagement of the driving connection to the ironing roll, simultaneously with the movement of the shoe away from the roll, the rotation of the roll may be arrested, with the shoe 26 in ironing position, by causing an endwise motion of the controlling shaft I35 through a lateral shifting of the knee of the operator located between the arms I56 on the rod I55. When that endwise movement of the shaft I35 takes place, toward the right as viewed in Fig. 10, the lever I38 is actuated to shift the rod I66 toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 8. thereby causing the plate I65 to move the clutch member 96 out of engagement with the clutch pins 95 and permit the gear 60 to rotate without rotating the roll. The clutch 99 remains disengaged as long as the knee of the operator is pressed against one of the arms I56 to maintain the controlling shaft I35 in its shifted position. This may be desirable when the operator wishes to arrest the rotation of the roll 25 momentarily when there is passing betwen the roll and the shoe a portion of the garment which could not be suificiently ironed by one continuous passage over the surface of the shoe. As soon as the pressure of the knee of the operator is released, the spring I50, shown in Figs. 3 and 16, restores the operating shaft I35 to its normal position and thus permits the clutch member 94 to be moved again into engagement with the 'clutch pins 95 under the influence of the coil spring 98. c

' The mechanism which drives the roll and effects relative movement of the shoe with respect I to the roll is also employed for bringing about a positive lubrication of all parts of the driving mechanism contained within the housing 20. This housing is adapted to be partially filled with lubricating oil which may be inserted through an aperture in the upper part of the cover 24 which is normally closed by a threaded plug I90, shown in Fig. 8. When it is desired to replace this oil, it may be drained out through an aperture in the lower part of the housing which is normally closed by another plug I9I, shown in Fig. 10. The lower part of the housing is thus always occupied by a considerable quantity of lubritant and, for the purpose of lower part of the. housing and arranged to be pump cylinder is thus held rigidly against move- Fig. 8. The oil then finds its way through the ment. The bore of the pump cylinder I94 is slidably engaged by a piston or plunger I91 which projects therefrom and carries a laterally extending pin I99 arranged to engage a slot I99 formed in the end of a crankarm I99 fixed on the rock shaft I 01. The pump casing is provided on .its under side with an inlet port 200 which is normally closed by a ball valve 20I seated bygravity. When the rock shaft I0! is turned to move the plunger I91 toward the right, as viewedin Fig. 7, the suction created thereby elevates the ball valve I96 and draws,

lubricating oil into the cylinder of the pump. Upon the reverse movement of the plunger I91, due to the opposite motion of the rock shaft I01, the pressure of the oil in the pump cylinder seats the ball valve 20I and forces upwardly another ball valve 202 which normally closes an outlet port 203 locatedin a valve member 204 mounted in the upper end portion of the pump casing. When the ball valve 202 is-moved upwardly to open the outlet port, the oil from the pump cylinder The pan 206 forms an oil reservoir from which the oil flqvs downwardly through a passage 201 to the bearing of the shaft 65, as shown in hub 61 to the bearings of the shaft 65 and gear 64 and also to the bearing of the shaft 89, from which point the oil flows downwardly through another passage 208 to the bearing 62 of the shaft 60. From this hearing hub, another oil passage 209 conveys the oil downwardly to the bushing 55 in which one end of the shaft 52 is journaled. The bushing 53 and hub 54 in which the other end of this shaft isjpurnaled have an oil hole 2I0 through which oil, dripping from 1 the parts above, finds its way to this end of the shaft. From the hub 56, the oil flows downwardly by gravity through another oil passage 2I I to the hub 44 in which one end of the shaft is journaled. The other end of this shaft is lubricated by oil dripping downwardly from above and finding its way through the oil hole previously described. In this way there is a positive supply of oil,to the upper part of the frame upon each complete actuation of the rock shaft I01 for moving the ironing shoe 26 toward and from the'roll 25. The principal bearings of the driving mechanism are lubricated directly by oil flowing from the pan 206 through the oil passages just referred to and'the other parts of the mechanism are lubricated by oil by the body of oil which collects in the bottom of the casing 24 and any excess of lubrication supplied to the oil passages from the pan 206, either flows out at the ends of the various bearings or is returned to the bottom of the casing.

2| 2 leading downwardly from the bearing 44.

Although one form of the invention has been shown and described by way of illustration, it

.will be understood that it may be constructed in various other embodiments coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination in an ironing machine, of a table, a housing" carried by said table, ironing elements carried by said housing and extending over said table, driving mechanism located in of said shaft to control one operation of .said

mechanism and for causing the axial movement of said shaft to control another operation of said mechanism.

2. The combination in an ironing machine, of a rotatable roll, a relatively movable shoe, driving mechanism, means for connecting said driving mechanism to rotate said roll, means for connecting said driving mechanism to move said shoe toward and from said roll, a controlling member located beneath said roll and having rotatable and longitudinal movements adapted to be effected by the knee of the operatonand connections from said controlling member to said driving mechanismfor causing the rotatable movement of said controlling member to control the rotation of said roll by said driving mechanism and for causing the longitudinal movement of said controlling member to control the movement of said shoe toward and from said roll.

3. The combination in an ironing machine, of a table, a rotatable roll and a relatively movable shoe mounted over said table, driving mechanism, means including a controlling member having reciprocatory and rotary movements for controlling the operation of said driving mechanism in rotating said roll and effecting said movement of said shoe'respectively, and a member extending beneath said table and actuated by the operator for actuating said controlling member.

4. The combination in an ironing machine, of a table, a housing carried by said table, an ironing roll and a shoe extending longitudinally from said housing over said table, driving mechanism in said housing, a shaft having a sliding and rotatable engagement with the wall of said housing and extending beneath said table, a controlling member mounted on said shaft within said housing, means actuated by the angular movement of said controlling member for causing movement of said shoe with respect to said roll, and means actuated by linear movement of said controlling member to control the rotation of said roll by said driving mechanism.

5. The combination in an ironing machine, of a rotatable roll, a relatively movable shoe, driving mechanism means including a clutch to connect said driving mechanism to rotate said roll, means including a second clutch to connect said driving mechanism to move said shoe with respect to said roll, and a controlling member having movement in one direction to operate one adapted to be actuated by the knee of the operator for imparting said movements to said controlling member.

7. The combination in an ironing machine, bf a rotatable roll, a relatively movable shoe, driving mechanism, means including a clutch to connect said driving mechanism to rotate said roll, means including a second clutch to connect said driving mechanism to move said shoe with respect to said roll, and means including a controlling member having movement in one direction for engaging one of said clutches and disengaging the other of said clutches and having movement in another direction for independently disengaging said first named clutch.

8. The combinationin an ironing machine, of a rotatable roll, a relatively movable shoe, driving mechanism, means including a clutch to connect said driving mechanism to rotate said roll, means including a second clutch to connect said driving mechanism to move said shoe with respect to said roll, a controlling member having movement in difierent directions, means actuated by the movement of said controlling member in one direction for efiecting operation of said second named clutch, means operated by the actuation of said second named clutch to eflectthe disengagement'of said first named clutch, and means actuated by the movement of said controlling member in another direction for independently effecting the disengagement of said first named clutch.

9. The combination in anironing machine, of a rotatable roll, a relatively movable shoe, driving mechanism, means including a clutch to connect said driving mechanism to rotate said roll,

means including a second clutch to connect said aoenare driving mechanism to move said shoe with respect to said roll, a controlling member having movement in difierent directions, means actuated by the movement of said controlling member in one direction for effecting operation of said second named clutch, means operated by the actuation of said second named clutch to efiect the disengagement of said first named clutch, means actuated by the movement of said controlling member in another direction for independently effecting the disengagement of said first named clutch, and means adapted to'be actuated by a knee of the operator for imparting said movements to said controlling member.

10. The combination in an ironing machine, of a rotatable roll, a relatively movable shoe, driving mechanism, means operated by said driving mechanism for moving said shoe toward and r from ironing position with respect to said roll, means for starting the rotation of said roll by said driving mechanism when said shoe is moved to ironing position and for stopping the rotation of said roll when said shoe is moved away from ironing position, and means located beneath said roll in a position to be actuated by the knee of the operator and having connections with said driving mechanism for independently stopping the rotation of said roll when said shoe is in ironing position.

11. The combination in an ironing machine, of a rotatable roll, a relatively movable shoe, a controlling member having rotary and axial movements, means controlled :by one of said movements of said member for effecting the rotation of said roll, and means controlled by the other of said movements of said member for effecting movement of said shoe toward and from said roll.

12. The combination in an ironing machine,

of a rotatable roll, a relatively movable shoe, driving mechanism for rotating said roll and moving said shoe, controlling means including a rotatable and axially movable shaft, means actuated by the axial movement of said shaft for controlling the rotation of said roll by said driving mechanism, and means actuated by the rotary movement of said shaft for controlling the relative movement of said shoe by said driving mechanism.

JOHN T. 

